Tours Old Town Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Tours Old Town. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, this is the best tour available right now:

• Loire Valley Castles Walking Tour with Audioguide 

While it's free to explore Tours Old Town on your own, many travelers opt to explore the Loire Valley town with an audioguide to learn more about its unique history, architecture, and food. Self-guided Loire Valley audio tours start at US$12 per person.

Yes, Tours is one of the principal towns of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley, and its atmospheric Old Town, known as Vieux Tours, is the main highlight. It’s renowned for its picturesque timber-framed houses, cobbled streets, and Gothic cathedral, as well as its foodie scene and terrace cafés.

Tours Old Town is small enough to explore in 2–3 hours, and the best way to get around is on foot. Plan a full day if you want to take a guided tour, visit the Archeology Museum and Fine Arts Museum, and dine at one of Tours’ excellent restaurants.

Start with a stroll through Tours’ historic streets, stopping to visit landmarks such as Saint Martin’s Basilica, Charlemagne’s Tower, and Saint-Gatien Cathedral. Browse the many artisan shops, enjoy a coffee at a terrace café on Place Pumereau, then head to the waterfront for a view along the Loire River.

Loire Valley towns like Tours can be overrun with tourists in summer—to enjoy the sunny weather and alfresco dining without the crowds, come in May, June, or September instead. Alternatively, the Loire Valley is a magical destination for the holidays, and Tours Old Town hosts a lively Christmas Market.